Kitchenaid KDS17A

[coreycwc]

I recently acquired a KDS17A dishwasher. It’s in great shape and appears to have had minimal use. The seller said it worked when it was disconnected. I got it installed in my kitchen, but I have an issue. It will not fill with water. After some online research, I though it might be the inlet valve so I replaced it, but that did not solve the issue. When the cycle starts I can hear water running in, but no water ever makes it to the tub. As the cycle progresses, I can hear water draining, then filling again, but still no water in the tub. I am NOT mechanically inclined at all, so I’m a bit clueless about this whole situation. Any advice you guys could offer would be much appreciated!

 

[steved]

Drain valve

I bet the drain valve is stuck open with a toothpick, or bread twister. So water is running in and right out. The experts here can confirm

 

[coreycwc]

Thanks!

Definitely hoping one of the experts here can offer some insight. Fingers crossed!

 

[chachp]

Drain Valve on your 17

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here are a couple of screen shots of how to remove your drain valve.  It's pretty easy to remove and you can check it out to see if it it stuck open.  You can also test to see if it's working correctly.</span>

 

[coreycwc]

Still not working

The drain valve is functioning properly. It appears that some water is now bubbling up in the middle of the dishwasher, but the wash arm is not turning. Am I mistaken in thinking that the dishwasher should be filling with water from about mid way up the left side? Nothing comes out of that inlet.

 

[bigalsf]

Water enters the machine from the left side through a small port on the sidewall (it has a white or blue cap on it). When this model starts a Full cycle the timer first has to move through the soak section. This takes a few seconds so water does not enter immediately. Once the timer stops advancing you should here water entering the machine. To check this open the door and then close the latch keeping the door open. Press the Full cycle button and then use a small Phillips screwdriver (or similar) to press the door switch on the the top right corner of the door (you'll see a small hole with a silver colored actuator). Watch the left side of the door and see how strong the water stream is. The water should enter with a definite force, landing toward the middle of the filter area. If it's really weak your fill valve screen is clogged or your valve to the machine is not open far enough (or clogged itself). The proper water level in the machine is about half-way up on the top of the filter (I believe it's 9 quarts).

Check that and let us know the results. We can go from there.